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Topic: The Trinity - Need a good book (Read 3981 times)

I am looking for a good book on the Trinity. It does NOT have to be Orthodox. I am looking for a comprehensive study on this topic, a book that delves not only into the New Testament, but the Old Testament as well. There has to be a good book out there.

You might try St. Basil's On the Holy Spirit. As the title suggests, the emphasis is on defining the nature of the Holy Spirit against those who would deny His divinity, but I found St. Basil's treatise on this very informative regarding the relationship of the Holy Spirit to the other two Persons of the Holy Trinity and therefore an excellent work on Trinitarian theology. In fact, this short work is considered one of the foundational writings of the Greek Fathers on the Trinity.

Frank Sheed has out several books and in each one he gives a very clear explanation and description of the Blessed Trinity:1. Theology and Sanity2. Theology for Beginners3. To know Christ Jesus.

Theology and Sanity provides the most comprehensive discussion.

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"For, by its immensity, the divine substance surpasses every form that our intellect reaches. Thus we are unable to apprehend it by knowing what it is. Yet we are able to have some knowledge of it by knowing what it is not." - St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa contra gentiles, I, 14.

Way to Nicaea by Fr John BehrNicene Faith by Fr John Behr5 Theological Orations by St Gregory of Nazianzus (recent SVS Press Edition is great)The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God by Hanson (dated but good)Early Christian Doctrines by JND Kelley

An excellent book by a RC author: The Trinity by Karl Rahner. Rahner is hated by many conservative RCs for some of his other books but in this book he basically (IMO) destroys scholasticism and Aquinas...but, alas, he can't get his mind off the filioque totally so use caution.

Most of the books above are general developments of theology pertaining to God and Christ but I think we can't compartmentalize too much.

destroys scholasticism and Aquinas...but, alas, he can't get his mind off the filioque totally so use caution.

I highly doubt he destroys scholasticism or Aquinas.

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"For, by its immensity, the divine substance surpasses every form that our intellect reaches. Thus we are unable to apprehend it by knowing what it is. Yet we are able to have some knowledge of it by knowing what it is not." - St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa contra gentiles, I, 14.

I highly recommend "Theology and the Church" by Fr Dumitru Staniloae if you can find it.

From the back of the book:

Quote

In a fresh and masterly synthesis, rooted in the tradition of the Greek Fathers yet open to the legitimate concerns of contemporary Christian thought, Staniloae gives a dynamic presentation of the Orthodox doctrine of the Trinity as a basis of ecclesiology and anthropology. He assumes into a balanced theological framework the totality of creation, the world and human culture, by referring it to its ultimate goal: restoration and transfiguration.

The book is a collection of separate essays from Romanian journals so you can pretty much start at any chapter your interested in. Particularly, after reading the first three chapters, and especially the 3rd chapter, I came away with a much better appreciation and understanding of the orthodox expression of the Trinity. I would buy the book just for the 3rd chapter. Here's the chapter titles:

Chapter I: Trinitarian Relations and The Life of the ChurchChapter II: The Holy Spirit and The Sobornicity of The Church - Extracts From the Report of an Orthodox Observer at the Second Vatican Council Chapter III: The Holy Trinity: Structure of Supreme LoveChapter IV: Revelation Through Acts, Words and ImagesChapter V: Revelation as Gift and PromiseChapter VI: The Orthodox Doctrine of Salvation and Its Implications for Christian Diakonia in the WorldChapter VII: The Problems and Perspectives of Orthodox Theology

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"The Unity of the Church, as Your Holinesses well know it, is the will of God and ought to be an inspiring example to all men. It should always be a help and not a hindrance to the unity of men of different religions."-Emperor Haile Selassie To the Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches 1965

Yes, the book is excellent and would recommend it to any Christian even if they were not Orthodox. The book is powerful, deep, moving and perfect for the average believer who wants to make the most out of their faith but who isn't really concerned about the particulars, but I am looking for more deeper knowledge concerning it, I want to know the particulars, Historical evidences, the relationship of the creed of trinity and how it relates to the old testament concept of God, and the spirit of God. Because there has to be a basis in the old testament of the trinity. I want to see how it is related, from a scholarly perspective.

And also the growth the development of the early creed of the Christians into its present form, which is recited on Sunday by every believer.

Way to Nicaea by Fr John BehrNicene Faith by Fr John Behr5 Theological Orations by St Gregory of Nazianzus (recent SVS Press Edition is great)The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God by Hanson (dated but good)Early Christian Doctrines by JND Kelley

An excellent book by a RC author: The Trinity by Karl Rahner. Rahner is hated by many conservative RCs for some of his other books but in this book he basically (IMO) destroys scholasticism and Aquinas...but, alas, he can't get his mind off the filioque totally so use caution.

Most of the books above are general developments of theology pertaining to God and Christ but I think we can't compartmentalize too much.

After eight hundred years of scholarship, some one finally figured out how to do it. LOL. Gimme a break.

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"For, by its immensity, the divine substance surpasses every form that our intellect reaches. Thus we are unable to apprehend it by knowing what it is. Yet we are able to have some knowledge of it by knowing what it is not." - St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa contra gentiles, I, 14.